About Skooliepalooza

How did Skooliepalooza get started?

What's New for Skooliepalooza III?

Skooliepalooza was an idea for an annual Skoolie festival that was first proposed in a Skoolie forum by (Dredman) Don Redman. Unfortunatley Dredman's bus broke down in Florida before the event itself and he was not able to make it, however a number of buses still magically showed up in the Quartzsite Arizona desert in January 2017 for what became Skooliepalooza. Being unsure how many might attend, the first Skoolipalooza was held adjoining the which is also held in the first few weeks of January each year. Throughout the two-weeks of the first Skooliepalooza event approximately 22+ buses came and went, some just staying for a few days to a week and a few die-hards staying the entire length. It was obvious during the first event that many new friendships were forged; and that skoolie community building was the result, wanting to keep it going a few participants worked to create the second event which was again held in the Quartzsite Arizona desert in January 2018, this time as it's own stand alone meetup just south and to the west of RTR. Approximatley 30 conversion buses from all over the U.S. began arriving throughout the week, a few potlucks were hastily organized, there were nightly community campfires, a few daytime hikes and lots of sharing of conversion ideas, good fun was had by all.

More scheduled events, guided hikes, stargazing, movie and game nights, useful seminars and more are being discussed. Of course, not everyone comes to Skooliepalooza to fill every waking minute with activities, so the usual come and go as you please ethos applies. Come for a week, a day or a few hours, everyone is welcome! With 2019's event coming up now is the time to voice your support and for those with a skill set to share with the group, step up and volunteer to make Skooliepaolooza III the best ever. Reach out to us via the official Facebook Page or, e-mail us at: volunteers@skooliepalooza.com

Camping Information

Skooliepalooza III will be held on a primitive or dispersed camping area, with no services available (water, electric, trash removal, bathrooms or outhouses). What you bring in, must be packed out!. There are no fees to camp, however you must register (on-site) for a free permit.

Dispersed Camping in Underdeveloped Areas:

• You may camp for up to 14 days before having to move at least 25 miles from your original spot. You may not return to that same area for 28 consecutive days.
• When possible choose a campsite that has already been established.
• Camp at least 200 feet away from water sources, including gully's which can quickly fill with water during sudden downpours.
• Use existing fire rings or even better, use a camp stove.
• Check local current fire conditions before starting a campfire.
• Dispose of human waste properly (away from water and in a 6” or deeper hole). Bureau of Land Management oversees and manages 248.3 million acres in the United States, offering a variety of resources and terrain for numerous activities. To camp on (BLM) public lands, it is important to take necessary safety precautions and to be familiar with any regulations or laws to maintain the quality of life and to ensure your well-being. Before heading to a remote location, where most BLM campsites are located, you should take into consideration the weather conditions, necessary equipment, and any safety procedures that are recommended. In order to maintain safety standards for visitors and the environment itself, the BLM has specific protection and law enforcement responsibilities to achieve its resource management mission.

Safety Standards for Campers:

Leave behind a trip schedule, especially when venturing out to undeveloped areas, to let someone know what your trip plans are and vehicle information if a search and rescue is necessary. Camping is generally permitted on all public lands as long as you follow the BLM regulations posted at your location. Campfires are allowed on public lands, as long as they are in accordance with local fire regulations. They should be built in a manner to ensure the safety of the public, BLM resources and other surrounding environments. Never start a fire with flammable liquids and always look for a preexisting fire pit rather than forming a new one. Plenty of water and a shovel should always be part of your camping gear, in case the fire needs to be extinguished. If you prefer to sleep in a camper or tent with a catalytic heater, it is recommended to ventilate your tent or RV to prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Any hibachi-type cooking device should be used outdoors and never in a small space.

Occupancy and Use:

The BLM does not let you camp longer than 14 days in any 30 day period at one location, including any campground on public land. After 14 days are over, you must move at least 25 miles away from the previously occupied location. However, there is no bureau-wide standard for this and we recommend that you check in with the area you plan to camp in.After vacating the campsite, do not leave any personal property behind. This includes any property left for another camper or occupant. You must not leave personal property unattended in a campground, designation recreation area, or any other public lands for more than 48 hours. If done so without permission, the items left behind are subject to disposition under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. Vehicles parked for overnight camping, hiking, river rafting or other authorized recreation activities are exempt.
You must not establish occupancy, take possession of, or otherwise use public lands for residential purposes unless you receive prior authorization from the BLM. There must be no violation of any State of Arizona or county laws, and regulations regarding public health, safety, sanitation, building or fire codes while camping on, occupying or using public land.If a camping area charges fees, you must register and pay the camping fees within 30 minutes of entering a fee area.

Wood Gathering or Cutting:

All cutting and removing of wood from BLM lands or public land requires a permit and is allowed only in designated areas. Wood cutting permits can be obtained at BLM district and field offices. The person who was issued the permit must be present during all wood cutting activities with the permit itself. If you purchase a permit, wood tags are issued to document the amount of wood being harvested.

Rules and Regulations

First and fore is a family-friendly event. While we expect freedom of expression, it is after all a very diverse group of individuals, please keep in mind that highly impressionable young-minds will also be around. Parents; please note that late night discussions around the campfire may occasionally include adult language; please make sure any minors are where you feel most comfortable and where all participants can feel free to communicate.

Rules and Regulations:

There are no fees for the event itself, it's 100% free. Camping during the event is also free for up to 14 days! Please respect the rules of the Bureau of Land Management and other guidelines to ensure that all participants have an enjoyable and safe experience.
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If you do plan to camp during the event, please check in to register with the BLM camp host and be sure to read their camping rules. If arriving after hours, and or the camp host is not on duty, just proceed to the Skooliepalooza III camp but be sure to register with the host early the next day.
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Anyone wishing to conduct commercial activities must have a permit from the BLM. Our event allows for the exchange or sale of personal gear and items ONLY, not for the sale of commercial products. Please respect this as it affects all of us.
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Many come to Skooliepalooza to look at other bus conversions, to share their best practices and some to get ideas for their own first build. You are not required to offer tours of your bus, or even have a bus or conversion. We will have a visible method of letting others know whether or not your bus/conversion is open to tours.
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Please keep pets on a leash. There are many coyotes in the area, please do not leave your pets unattended.
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Continued:

You are solely responsible for the security of your personal area and possessions at all times. It's easy to feel at home at Skooliepalooza but be as careful as you would be in any unfamiliar area and secure any personal areas and valuables.

In January it is unlikely you will come across a rattle snake or scorpion, however it is very important to remember that they are present year round. So, be mindful of watching where you are walking or if lifting anything off the ground.

Quartzsite offers wonderful sunsets and star-gazing opportunities. To help us all enjoy the full sky of stars we ask that everyone please turn off any exterior lights before 9:00pm.
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No unattended fires, please. A community campfire will be held each night (weather pending) starting approximately 1/2 hour before dusk. Please bring firewood or contribute to the event fund, we can ALWAYS use more firewood!
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Days at Skooliepalooza are filled with activities from sunrise to well after sunset each day. At the end of each day many people want to enjoy good friends and discussions around the community campfire or to get some needed rest. So please respect quiet hours, no generators or loud noises, between 9:00pm and 7:00am.